Her Lotus Year in Paris

If you’re in Paris the charming Librarie Galignani has copies of Her Lotus Year in stock – https://www.galignani.fr

Royal Asiatic Society Shanghai – RAS Stories of Things, March 21 – Shanghai movie stars and wooden buddhas

Stories of Things is delighted to present our next program on March 21st, 2025, 7:00pm at the Sketch Yard Restaurant near the RAS Reading Room.

Stories of Things veteran, Professor Andrew Field, is back with a photographic movie scrapbook from the 1930’s that he found in a Beijing flea market almost 30 years ago. Dr. Field will lead us through a story that not only looks at the cinema world of that time, but also delves into the world of a fan who might have assembled such a book.

Long-time Shanghai resident and serial collector, Brent Beisher, will bring along a short documentary about his collecting obsession, as well as one of his favorite finds: a wooden buddha retrieved from the “graveyard” of a traditional buddhist sculptor. Come along to learn what drives Brent further afield to assemble his eclectic and kaleidoscopic collection of things.

Beverages and light snacks will be served. Entry for members and friends is rmb100. Non-members is rmb200.

March 21 – 7pm

Sketch Yard Art Restaurant
L1-A02, Building 13, 888 Dongan Road
Shanghai, China

click here to register

Historic Shanghai by Carlos Augusto De Jesus, 1909

Historic Shanghai by Macanese author Carlos Augusto De Jesus, 1909 was in some ways a follow up to his classic Historic Macao (1902). Historic Shanghai was published by the book publishing arm of The Shanghai Mercury newspaper. Particularly interesting are the number of maps in the book including two below – of Gordon military plans during the Taiping Uprising and a very early map of Shanghai…..

Well that was HKILF 2025

What a fantastic Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2025 was… Congratulations to Laura Mannering, Daniella Lopez and all the HKILF team. I was delighted to be the closing event, talking Wallis Simpson is China, scandal, warlords and Wallis’s China style with Michelle “M” Garnaut at Soho House….

An Evening With Me, Wallis, Macao and Old China – Bookazine, Tai Kwun, 13/3/25

An evening of Wallis in China, some Macao stories & old China stuff (+ a raffle for a delightful old Macao map), all at the lovely Bookazine Social in Tai Kwun (Hollywood Road, HK) – 6.30, free, quite possibly a glass of wine, good people, some good conversation. Just sign up here for numbers –

The Defectors – BBC Radio 3 – Now in BBC Sounds

My new drama-doc (with Al Smith and Sasha Yevtushenko), The Defectors, is now available on BBC Sounds everywhere….

The Observer – Radio Pick of the Week – ‘this fascinating production recreates the story behind the 2016 defection deputy Ambassador Thae Yong-ho, while also hearing real-life testimonies from those who have fled the regime.’
Daily Telegraph – On My Wavelength – ‘a terrific drama’
The Sunday Times – ‘inspired drama-documentary’
The Sunday Telegraph – ‘an inventive retelling….highly entertaining’
The Times – ‘a cleverly constructed docu-drama…astonishing stories’
Radio Times – ‘atypical drama….a thrilling listen, and the references to North Korea’s sinister Third Floor remain long after it’s over.’

click here to listen

John Gittings – Chinese Photo-Journal 1978–2003

An amazing selection of photos from the former Guardian correspondent John Gittings, taken between 1978–2003 – click here

The Lynn Pan Commemoration at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2025

Some photos from the commemoration of the life and work of Shanghai historian, writer and inspirer Lynn Pan (Pan Ling) at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2025….